Type-writer cover.



W. M. 'sYKEs.

TYPE WRITER COVER. AFPLIOATION FILED MAY 15,1908.

905,762., Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. M. SYKES.

TYPE WRITER COVER. APPLICATION FILED MAX-l5, 1908.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WILLIAM M. SYKES, OF ROANOKE, ALABAMA.

TYPE-WRITER COVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

Application filed May 15, 1908. Serial No. 433,128.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TILLIAM M. SYKES, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Roanoke, in the county of Randolph and State of Alabama, have,invented new and useful Improvements n Type-Writer Covers, of which the following is a specification.

Mypresent invention relates to improvements in typewriter covers, and it has for-its object primarily to provide a simple and improved device of this character which is capable of automatically opening to uncover the machine when the operator is seated beforeit and which is automatically closed the moment the operator leaves the machine, the

possibility of the machine being left uncovcred and therefore exposed to dust or damp nessor the unfinished work left in the machine exposed to the view of others, being thereby avoided. I

Further objects of the invention are to provide a typewriter cover of this character which is provided with a treadle by means of wlnch 1t may be conveniently operated and .whichalso embodies a collapsible cover of improved construction which, while the machine is being used is collapsed into a compact space so as to occupy very little room and to present a neat appearance, the cover being provided with means for mounting it. upon a typewriter desk whereby it may be readily adjusted to accommodate it to desks of dillerent sizes and construction.

To these and other ends, the invention conin certain improvements, and combina tions and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out particularly in the claims at'the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawing :Figure 1 is a perspective View of a typewriter cover constructed in accordance with my present invention, the cover being shown in closed position; Fig. 2 represents a vertical sectional view through the cover and the desk supporting it. the cover being shown in open position in full lines, and the dotted lines in- -'licatin,o' the position of the cover with reference to the t iewritcr when the cover is closed; Fig. is a detail perspective view of one corner of the cover showing the adjustable mountii'ig' therefor: and Fig. 4. is a perspective view of the frame and bows of the (sort-7.. I

Similar parisare desiojnated by the same reference characters in the several views.

My present invention provides a simple and improved cover which is capable of use generally in connection with typewriters and in the present embodiment ofmy invention being especially adapted for use as a typewrlter covcr,-and for this reason, it 1s provldcd with means WlllCll 1S. operable auto- :matically to close the cover the moment the operator leaves the machine, and when it is desirable to open the cover and thus render the machine accessible, it is only necessary for the operator to apply the feet to the treadle, a slight pressure serving to quickly open the cover and hold it in such. position during. the operation of the machine.

In the present instance, a table or desk 1 is shown which may be of any appropriate construction to support .a typewriter 2, and a cover is mounted in pivotal relation to the table or desk and adapted to cover and uncover the typewriter as'may be desired. In

the present instance, a collapsible cover is shown, such a cover being generally preferable because of the factthat it is capable of foldmg into a very compact space when opened. This cover in the present instancecomprises a yoke-shaped frame 3 having a horizontally extending rail at the top thereof and a pair of downwardly extending upright arms. This frame isprefcrably composed of a strip of flat metal of suitable rigidity, and the lower end of each upright arm thereof is twisted a quarter turn on its longitudinal axis as at 4: to provide an attaching portion 5 at the lower end of each arm of the frame. A bracket (3 isattached to the typewriter desk or table at each rear corner of the cover and immediately in front of the respective attaching portion of the frame, these brackets each having a downwardly extending arm 7 which is arranged in parallel. relation with the corresponding; downwardly extending attachingportion 5 of the cover frame. The cover frameissecured to the table or desk by means of a pair of bolts 8 which connect theattaching portion 5 at each end of the cover frame to the upright arm 7 of the cooperating bracket, and in order to permit avertical adjustment for the cover in order that. the latter may be acconnnodated to tables and desks,.the tops of which are of different thicknesses, one/"of these parts, the attaching portion 5 in the present instance, is provided with a vertically elongated slot 9 through whiclrthe bolts 8 extend, and obviously, this elongated slot allows the cover frame to be secured to the supporting brackets at different elevations. A cross rail 10 preferably extends horizontally at the rear edge of the table top which serves as a fastening for the lower rear edge ofthe collapsible cover, the ends rear edge of the table top and the vertical arm 7 'of the corresponding supporting bracket, tightening of the adjusting bolts serving to secure this rail in proper position.

The collapsible cover shown in the present instance is supported by the cover frame and it embodies a lower bow 12 which is substantially yoke-shaped in form, it embodying an intermediate portion which is adapted to pass over the inachine'and rest upon the top of the table or desk, and a pair of rearwardly extending arms, each of these arms being provided near its rear end with a bearing 18, the rear end-of each arm being extended beyond said bearing and is turned upwardly to form an operating arm 14 provided with an' eye 15 on its end. A second how 16 is also provided, this bow being also yoke-shaped and of substantially the size as the lowermost bow 12', the ends of therbow 16, however, being bent inwardly at their rear ends and extended through the bearing 13 formed in-each arm of the bow 12 and through a corresponding aperture formed in therespective vertical arm of the cover frame, these inwardly extending portions of the second or intermediate bow serving as a pintle 17 about which the lower bow 12 turns as an axis. One .of these pintles, of course, extends inwardly from each side of the cover, and they may be joined in the middle. Another intermediate bow 18 may also be provided, this how being preferably'of the same width as thebows .12 and 16 but somewhat shorter in length, the rear end of each lateral'arm'of the bow 18 being turned inwardly to cooperate with a bearing aperture 19 which is formed in each side arm of the cover frame above the res eetive pintle 17. A covering 20' of any flexible waterproof material isattached to the. several bows. or ribs and to the cover frame, this flexible cover being in the form of a hood, the lower edge of which is secured in a suitable manner to the lower bow or rib 12, and the'top of the covering extends over the cover frame 3, its lower edge being tacked or otherwise fastened to 'the cross rail 10 at the rear of the table or desk, the, ecrv'eriiriv being adapted to fold.

with the ribs or ewe when the lowermost thus close the cover.

bow 12 is turned into a substantially vertical of the lower bow or rib 12, this felt being 'arranged to press uponthe table top and thus support the cover. o

The opening and closing inovei'nentsof the cover are preferably controlled automatically by means of a treadle 22, the forward edge of which is provided. with a cross' rail 23 which is adapted. to lie upon the floor in front of the table or desk and serve as a pintle or fulcrum for the treadle, and a pair of rods 24: are suitably attached to the rear portionof the treadle and are pivotally connected at their upper ends to the eyes 15 formed on the cover operating arms, the

latter being provided at the rear ends of the lowermost bow 12 of. the cover, the mere v weight of the operators feet upon the treadle in taking a position before the machine serving to turn-the operatingarms downwardly and thus lift the bow 12 so as to collapse the cover, and a releasing of such pressure by the removal of thefeet permitting the lowermost. bow or rib 12 to descend and In order to insure the of the cover the moment the operators feet are rembved fr'ointhe treadle and thus avoid the possibility of the cover remaining open "inadvertently after the operator leaves the desk, and'to retain the cover in closed position, a tension spring 25 is attached at its automatic. closing ieo lower end to each eye 15, the upper end of each respective spring being attached to an .iip-turned hook or spur 26 formed on the "top rail of the cover frame. The cover 'is provided with aring or eyelet 27 to accommodate each hoot 2G and with a similar eyelet' 28 in orderto permit the cover to' be slipped on over-the, operating arm at each SlClGyOf the cover, In some C'rlSGSflSllCll for instance as during the cleaning of the typewriter, it may be desirable to fasten the i cover in open position, and for that purpose,

a flexible flap 29 is provided. this flap being secured to the cover iinniediz tely above. the top rail of the cover frame and is provided with an aperture to receive a knob. 30 which a is secured ,to the lowermost rib 01' how 12 of the cover, the head of the knob being adapted to enter the aperture in the flap and thus retain the cover in open position without the necessity of the operator retaining the feet upoiithe treadle.

A typewriter "cover constructed in accordance with my present invention comparatively simple in construction and is capable of being opened and closed automatically, ob- I hat dust and moisture cannot reach the machine, and any unfinished work left in the machine cannot be inspected by unauthorized persons. Moreover, the collapsible cover is of a simple and improved construction and is capable of being easily applied to and adjusted according to the thickness of the tops of typewriter desks and tables of various kinds, the collapsible nature of the cover enabling the typewriter table or desk 7 to be. placed in close proximity to a wall Withoutthe wall interfering with the opening movement of the cover, and the cover presents at all times a neat appearance.

It will be understood, of course, that while I have shown in the present instance one specific means for mounting the cover upon the typewriter desk or table, the invention is not necessarily so limited, as any appropriate means may be employed for this purpose according to' the circumstances of each particular case. The cover is also prefer ably of such a -size that it is capable of covering the machine irresp'ectiveof the position occupied by the carriage thereof, thereby avoiding the necessity of first setting the carriage in" the center of the machine before lowering the cover, and of course, the s ecific construction of the cover and the ribs thereof may be modified in order that the best results may be obtained in the application of the invention.

I claim as my invention 1. A device of the class described comprising a cover adapted to fit over a typewriter, means for mounting the cover in pivotal relation to a supporting table or desk so as to swing into position to cover and uncover a typewriter, an operating arm rigidly attached to and movable with said cover, a treadle adapted to be arranged below the typewriter and operatively connected to said arm on the cover, a pressure upon the treadle by the operatorv assuming a position before the typewriter causing an automatic opening movement of the cover, and a spring also attached to said operating arm and acting to close the cover.

2. A device of the class described comprising a cover adapted to fit over a typewriter, means for mounting it in pivotal relation with the typewriter so as to cover and uncover the same, an operating arm rigidly attached to the cover, a treadle operatively connected to said arm on the cover and serving to move the latter into an open position, and a'spring attached to said operating arm, said spring being set by the opening movement of the cover and serving to automatically close the same.

3. A device of the class described compris ing a cellapsible cover adapted to fit overa typewriter and composed of a plurality of pivoted ribs or bows havmg a flexible covering connecting them, the lowermost rib having a rearwardly extending arm formed thereon, and a treadle having an operat ve connection with the said arm and serving to operatethe same to open the cover, 4. A device of the class described comprising a collapsible cover adapted to tit over a typewriter and composed of.a plurality of pivoted ribs or bows having a flexible covermg connecting them, the lowermost rib having a pair of rearwardly extending portions provided with a pair of arms, a treadle oper atively connected to both of said arms and arranged to operate the sameto open the cover, and a pair of springs connected to the respective arms and serving to automatically close the cover.

5. A cover for typewriters comprising an upright. supporting frame having means -for attaching it to a table or desk, a set of yokeshaped ribs or bows mounted in pivotal'relation to said frame, one of said ribs having a pair of rearwardly extending arms provided with bearings,'and another of said ribs having iii-turned portions cotiperating with said bearings and with the supporting frame to serve as pintles, and a flexible covering connecting the said ribs and frame.

6. A collapsible cover for typewriters comprising a cover frame having a pair of upright arms provided with means for attaching the frame to a table or desk, a set of ribs or bows mounted in pivotal relation 'to said bearings formed adjace t to its ends, and another of said ribs having in-turned portions cotiperating with said bearings as'pintles, a pair of arms formed on the lowermost rib eyond the bearings thereof, a covering of flexible material attached to the ribs and frame, and means operatively connected to said arms for opening the cover.

7. A collapsible cover for typewriters comprising a cover frame having a pair of upright arms provided with vertically slotted attaching portions on their lower ends, a set of ribs pivotally attached to the frame, the lowermost rib being adapted to rest upon a table top or desk,' "a covering of flexible material attached to the ribs and frame, a pair of supporting brackets having means for attaching them to a table or desk and provided with vertically extending attaching arms, and bolts connected to said attach ing arms and cooperating with the vertically frame, the lowermost r'b having a pair of slotted attaching portions of the cover frame for securing the latter-in different vertical positions with respect to the plane of the I top of the table or desk. t

8. A collapsible cover for typewriters comprising acover frame. provided with a ,pair of upright arms having vertical attaching portions at their lower ends a set of ribs pivotally attached to the frame, a flexible covering attached to the ribs and extending over the frame, a pair of supportingbrackets adapted for attachment-to a table or desk} and having vertical attaching arms, a cross bar extending horizontally between the arms of the cover frame and providing means for attaching the rear edge of the covering thereto, said cross bar being provided with tenons adapted to be interposed between the vertical arms of the'supporting brackets and the attaching portions of'the vframe, and means for clamping said tenons between said parts and for securing the cover frame in operative position.

In testimony whereof I have herennto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wlt- 

